Info about Pyre: Official game description: **Pyre** is a party-based RPG in which you lead a band of exiles to freedom through ancient competitions spread across a vast, mystical purgatory. Who shall return to glory, and who shall remain in exile to the end of their days? Key Features: ------------- * A New World From the Creators of Bastion and Transistor ------------------------------------------------------- Experience the biggest and most imaginative world yet from **Supergiant**! Get to know an ensemble cast of characters struggling to earn back their freedom as you make your way across the forsaken land called the Downside. * Action-Packed Three-on-Three Battle System ------------------------------------------ Battle against a colorful cast of adversaries in pitched, high-stakes confrontations where each victory (or defeat!) brings your exiles closer to enlightenment. Choose three from your party for each Rite, and outfit them with mystic Talismans and powerful Masteries. * A Branching Story with No Game-Over ----------------------------------- In **Pyre**, you will never be forced to lose progress. Whether you prevail or you fail, your journey continues. The interactive narrative is expressed through a story that no two players will experience in quite the same way. * Challenge a Friend in Versus Mode --------------------------------- On top of the single-player campaign, **Pyre** features a local two-player Versus Mode, where you can play against a friend (or CPU opponent) in one of the game's fast-paced ritual showdowns. Form your triumvirate from more than 20 unique characters. * Rich, Atmospheric Presentation ------------------------------ **Pyre** once again showcases the award-winning talents of the team that created **Bastion** and **Transistor**. From the vibrant hand-painted artwork to the evocative musical score, every aspect of **Pyre**'s presentation draws you into its fantasy world. * Accessible, Customizable Controls and 4K Ultra HD Graphics! ----------------------------------------------------------- Play with gamepad or mouse-and-keyboard using fully customizable controls custom-tailored to PC. The game offers a highly scalable challenge both in the campaign and Versus Mode. Experience it all in stunning 4K resolution (compatible display required)! * Unlock 'True Nightwing' Campaign Mode After Finishing the Story --------------------------------------------------------------- Complete the Campaign, then go at it once more, 'ironman'-style, with a unique set of rules, higher stakes, and greater challenge! Explore **Pyre**'s wide breadth of narrative outcomes as you re-play the story. A Message to Fans of Bastion & Transistor ----------------------------------------- _**Pyre** is our third game as a small independent studio, and was made possible by the success of our first two games, thanks to players like you right here on Steam. This time around, we were excited to make something different from **Bastion** or **Transistor**, with a focus on a story-rich presentation, multi-character battles, and many possible narrative outcomes. We hope you'll be surprised and delighted by the result, and that the many characters you’ll meet and stories you experience during your journey stay with you for a long time to come. Safe travels through the Downside, and thank you for your support!**\--the Supergiants**_ Release date: Jul 25, 2017 Categories: Party-based Combat, Visual Novel, Narrative-driven Gameplay, Character-driven Interactions and Dialogue, Branching Narrative, Local Multiplayer, Story Mode, Turn-based Combat Feature scans: - Steam Deck: score 30; verdict: Good with Minor Issues; summary: The game receives high praise for its graphics, story, voice acting, and soundtracks. It is noted for running well on Linux with Proton support and has good compatibility with GNU/Linux systems. However, there are some minor issues with small text and a significant report of frequent crashes at a specific chapter, which affects the overall stability and user experience. - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: - Community fair range: $15.00 - $20.00 - Reasoning: The reviews indicate that users find the game worth its full price of around $20. Multiple users explicitly mention that the game is a great value at $20, and others suggest buying it even at full price. This consensus supports a fair price range centered around the current base game price. - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 15.0h - Story completion: 12.0h - Session length: 8.0h - Endgame: N/A - Reasoning: The evidence provides several direct mentions of playtime metrics. The first quote mentions a 15-hour playthrough in one sitting, indicating both the total game completion time and a long session length. The second quote suggests a typical story completion time of around 12 hours. The third quote reinforces the 15-hour game completion time. The fourth quote also supports the 15-hour game completion time. There is no direct evidence provided for endgame playtime. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: Pyre has a slow start and a learning curve, but the game becomes more enjoyable and gripping after a few hours of gameplay. The uneven pacing and different game modes contribute to the overall fun factor. - Stance: Fun then drops - Anchor: Getting past the learning curve - Time to anchor: 3h 0m - Friction: slow start; learning curve; uneven pacing - Unlock drivers: progression through the narrative; local multiplayer; arena mode - Conditions: playing with friends; engaging with the story; exploring different game modes - Player Archetypes: - Story-Driven Explorer (buy) - Motivation: Engaging story and character development - Playstyle: Immersive and narrative-focused - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: story lover; visual novel fan - Reference games: Bastion; Transistor; Hades - Competitive Multiplayer Enthusiast (sale) - Motivation: Competitive and cooperative gameplay - Playstyle: Strategic and team-oriented - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: multiplayer fan; competitive gamer - Reference games: NBA Street; Fire Emblem - Gameplay Mechanic Aficionado (buy) - Motivation: Unique and complex gameplay mechanics - Playstyle: Strategic and experimental - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: gameplay enthusiast; strategy gamer - Reference games: Hades; NBA Street Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Outstanding sound and music (weight 0.78): The sound design and soundtrack are highly praised. Players mention the music as great, outstanding, and even breathtaking. - Beautiful and unique visuals (weight 0.64): The graphics and art style are described as beautiful, unique, and visually appealing. Players enjoy the dreamlike and colorful art direction. - Compelling and touching story (weight 0.62): The story is frequently described as compelling, touching, and well-written. Players find the narrative engaging and worth experiencing. - Well-developed and memorable characters (weight 0.58): Characters are noted for being well-developed, distinct, and memorable. Players appreciate the depth and complexity of the characters. - Unique blend of genres (weight 0.44): The game combines elements of visual novels, sports, and RPG, creating a unique and engaging experience. Players appreciate this innovative mix. - Intriguing world-building (weight 0.29): The world-building is noted for its depth, intrigue, and richness. Players appreciate the well-constructed world and lore. - Favorite from the developer (weight 0.13): Many players consider this game to be the best or their favorite from the developer, Supergiant Games. - Emotional impact (weight 0.13): The game is noted for its emotional depth and impact. Players find the experience emotionally affecting and profound. - Positive overall experience (weight 0.12): Players express their love for the game and find it worth buying. They appreciate the excellent game feel and campaign mode. Common complaints: - Repetitive gameplay structure (weight 0.31): The gameplay is often criticized for being repetitive, especially in later stages, which can make the game feel monotonous and boring. - Excessive and dull dialogue (weight 0.29): Many players find the game overly text-heavy with extensive and sometimes unskippable dialogues, leading to slow pacing and reduced enjoyment. - Unappealing gameplay mechanics (weight 0.29): Some players find the gameplay mechanics unenjoyable and monotonous, which can turn players off from continuing the game. - High difficulty and AI issues (weight 0.21): The game's high difficulty, especially on higher settings, and AI that uses cheap tactics can be frustrating for players. - Control issues (weight 0.14): Players have reported problems with the controls, including wonky and uncomfortable control schemes, as well as button mapping issues. - Niche appeal (weight 0.14): The game may not appeal to everyone due to its specific nature and gameplay style, which might not be as broadly appealing as other games. - Minor complaints (weight 0.13): Some players find the visual novel aspects boring, and there are complaints about clichéd characters and unimportant choices. - Translation issues (weight 0.11): There are reports of poor translation quality, particularly in Chinese and Spanish, which can affect the game experience for non-English speaking players. - Lack of online multiplayer (weight 0.1): The absence of an online multiplayer mode is a notable drawback for players who enjoy multiplayer experiences. - Comparisons to other games (weight 0.05): Some players feel that this game is not as good as other games by the same developer, which can affect their overall enjoyment. Gameplay feedback: - Visual novel and sports game hybrid (weight 0.69): The game combines elements of visual novels with sports game mechanics, creating a unique blend of narrative-driven storytelling and competitive gameplay. - Story and character-driven narrative (weight 0.43): The game features a strong narrative focus with character-driven storytelling, where decisions and interactions significantly impact the story. - Ritualistic sports battles (weight 0.4): The core gameplay revolves around ritualistic sports battles, often described as a mix of basketball and rugby with unique mechanics. - 3v3 sports-like battles (weight 0.34): The game features fast-paced 3v3 battles that resemble sports like basketball and rugby, with unique mechanics and strategies. - Unique character abilities and stats (weight 0.26): Each character has unique abilities, stats, and attributes, allowing for varied team compositions and strategies. - Decision-making impacts story (weight 0.21): Players' decisions have consequences that affect the story, adding a layer of depth and interactivity to the gameplay. - Difficulty modifiers and settings (weight 0.11): The game offers various difficulty settings and modifiers to increase the challenge, catering to different player preferences. Performance notes: - System requirements (weight 0.15): The game needs about 8.2 GB of space and 4 GB of RAM. It has low memory/resource usage but can be a resource hog with high CPU usage. - Cross-platform compatibility (weight 0.13): The game runs on various platforms including GNU/Linux, Windows 10 64-bit machines, and Steam Deck. - Performance on different hardware (weight 0.1): The game runs smoothly on low-end hardware and modern PCs but has issues with old machines. - Controller optimization issues (weight 0.04): There are potential optimization issues for controllers, which may affect gameplay. - Occasional freezing and Alt+Tab issues (weight 0.03): Players experience occasional freezing and issues when using Alt+Tab. Recommendations: - Unique storytelling and engaging gameplay (weight 0.22): The game is highly praised for its unique and dynamic storytelling, making it engaging for players who enjoy reading and interactive narratives. - High overall recommendations (weight 0.15): The game receives high praise and strong recommendations from many players, indicating a generally positive reception. - Highly recommended for Supergiant fans (weight 0.13): Fans of Supergiant Games are likely to enjoy this game, as it is considered one of the best from the developer and is highly recommended for its quality. - Blend of RPG and sports elements (weight 0.12): The game offers a unique blend of RPG and sports game elements, which may not appeal to those who dislike the sports genre but is recommended for its innovative approach. - Buy on sale (weight 0.11): Some players suggest purchasing the game during a sale, indicating that while it is worth playing, it might not be worth the full price for everyone. - Difficulty and gameplay tips (weight 0.1): Suggestions on difficulty settings and gameplay strategies, such as starting on Medium difficulty and adjusting settings based on progress. - Play Pyre and Hades (weight 0.08): Encouragement to play other games by the developer, such as Pyre and Hades, suggesting a connected or similar experience. - Recommended for visual novel fans (weight 0.04): The game is suggested for fans of visual novels, indicating a strong narrative focus. - Blind playthrough recommended (weight 0.04): Players are encouraged to go into the game with as little prior knowledge as possible to enhance the experience. - Step out of gaming comfort zone (weight 0.04): The game is recommended for players looking to try something new and different from their usual gaming preferences. - Buy the soundtrack (weight 0.03): The game's soundtrack is highly praised and recommended for purchase, indicating a strong musical component. Other player notes: No miscpoints Emotions: - Joy (weight 0.18): Players experience joy from the game's immersive narrative, beautiful graphics, and engaging gameplay. The combination of a richly imagined world, memorable characters, and a compelling soundtrack enhances the overall enjoyment and emotional impact. - Excitement (weight 0.14): The unique combination of gameplay elements and the hybrid nature of the game generate excitement. Players are particularly thrilled by the engaging story, unique gameplay mechanics, and the strategic depth offered by the game. - Frustration (weight 0.08): Frustration arises from several gameplay issues, including high difficulty, repetitive gameplay elements, and poor performance. Players also struggle with controls, lack of meaningful choices, and monotonous gameplay towards the end. - Enjoyment (weight 0.07): Enjoyment is derived from the game's story, characters, and gameplay mechanics. Players appreciate the well-constructed narrative, fun mechanics, and the overall engaging experience provided by the game. - Disappointment (weight 0.07): Disappointment stems from the game not meeting expectations, particularly in terms of gameplay and story depth. Players find the narrative underdeveloped and the gameplay repetitive, leading to a lack of engagement. - Admiration (weight 0.05): Players admire the game's unique blend of narrative and gameplay, along with its high-quality art, characters, and music. The rich world-building and detailed storytelling contribute to a sense of admiration. - Positive (weight 0.04): The game receives positive feedback for its unique mix of visual novel and basketball simulator elements. Players appreciate the fantastic writing, endearing characters, and the overall interesting concept and style. - Appreciation (weight 0.04): Appreciation is expressed for the game's focus on story and character development, as well as its high-quality artwork and music. Players value the unique gameplay mechanics and the rich world-building. - Satisfaction (weight 0.04): Satisfaction comes from the game's original mechanics, well-written story, and the impact of player choices. The high replayability and excellent visual style also contribute to a sense of accomplishment. - Sadness (weight 0.03): Sadness is evoked by the emotional impact of losing characters and the story's outcomes. Players feel a deep connection to the characters, making their fates particularly poignant. - Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Nostalgia is triggered by the game's lasting emotional impact and memories of past experiences with other games by the same developer. The characters and soundtrack also evoke a sense of nostalgia. - Happy (weight 0.02): Happiness is derived from the emotional impact of the story and character development. Players enjoy the unique and involving story, as well as the amazing art and outstanding music. - Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm is generated by the game's unique aspects, including its soundtrack, story, visuals, and gameplay. Players are particularly enthusiastic about the high-quality graphics, music, and overall positive aspects of the game. - Negative (weight 0.02): Negative feelings arise from the game's boring story, repetitive gameplay, and excessive exposition. Players also find the visual novel genre unappealing and the dialogues dull. - Excited (weight 0.02): Excitement is generated by the complex and enjoyable gameplay. Players find the gameplay intense and engaging, contributing to a sense of excitement. - Surprise (weight 0.02): Surprise comes from the game exceeding initial expectations. Players are pleasantly surprised by the interesting plot and the fact that characters remember their choices. - Awe (weight 0.02): Awe is inspired by the game's beautiful world-building, stunning art, and incredible music. The gorgeous visuals and great soundtrack contribute to a sense of awe. - Love (weight 0.01): Love for the game is expressed through appreciation for its characters, soundtrack, and overall experience. Players feel a deep connection to the game and its elements. - Immersed (weight 0.01): Players feel immersed due to the game's beautiful and unique visual style, along with its outstanding music. The combination of art and music creates a deeply engaging experience. - Engagement (weight 0.01): Engagement is driven by the game's complex story mode and deep emotional story. Players are kept hooked by the characters and the narrative depth.}